Y. Beneliahu et al., LASER INITIATION OF THE DECOMPOSITION OF ENERGETIC POLYMERS - SHOCK-WAVE FORMATION, Journal of physical chemistry, 99(16), 1995, pp. 6010-6018
Irradiation of the energetic polymer GAP (glycidyl azido polymer) by a
high power pulsed IR laser leads to its rapid decomposition. A large
amount of solid and gaseous material is released, and, in the presence
of an inert gas, a shock wave develops. Comparison with an inert poly
mer indicates that the energy released by the exothermicity of the dec
omposition reaction contributes significantly to the shock's formative
energy. The energy released in the micro-explosion can be estimated f
rom the analysis of the shock's front propagation velocity.